by Marce

Stan McDonald leader/soprano sax and clarinet, Jeff Stout trumpet, John Kafalas trombone, Ross Petot piano, Peter Gerler guitar, Al Ehrenfried string bass, Dave Bragdon drums.  Stan dedicated this evening to a former drummer who died recently, Jimmy Kay.

Stan has always been a rambunctious rebel at heart.  Less than a month after hip surgery, he was back with his Blue Horizon Jazz Band at the Sherborn Inn for their regular monthly performance.  Nothing could keep him away!

The band felt the energy, and played their hearts out. They started appropriately with I Got Rhythm, Four or Five Times, and an old Trad standard, Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of my Jelly Roll, with Jeff Stout’s powerful trumpet taking the melodic lead, and Stan McDonald prodding him on soprano sax, then moving to clarinet.

Jeff Stout, Professor at the Berklee College of Music, follows several great trumpet players who have played with this band, such as Walter Miller.

Jeff, relaxed and meticulous, adds power to every melody.  Armand Piron’s Mama’s Gone, Goodbye was fantastic.

Stepping in from the audience, Jeff Hughes gave Jeff Stout a break and relieved him for a couple of tunes.  His cornet is as long as a trumpet and can be just as powerful, or soft, as he chooses. 

I Would Do Anything For You.   Nice soft cornet by Hughes, backing McDonald’s vocal. 

In the 1970’s, Stan played with its composer, pianist Claude Hopkins.

Ross Petot took the intro to Blue Turning Grey over You, with a stirring guitar solo by Peter Gerler, followed by cornet and trombone awe-inspiring trading 4’s.  Fantastic!

Peter switched to banjo for Margie, playing full chord melody style, with Stout back on trumpet, Stan on rich low-register clarinet, culminating in a thrilling coda!

Jelly Roll Morton wrote this tune in what is termed “His Mexican period.”  However it was named after a bar in Kansas City.  Tijuana.  Ross Petot was featured on piano, because Stan was welcoming some visitors from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to the Sherborn Inn. 

Rejep Sultanov, Director of Soltan Dag, Educational Center of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and Murdan Orazmuradov, Business Manager of the Central Council of Youth Organization of Turkmenistan, were accompanied by a lady from their Embassy who acted as translator.  They were guests of Royce Anderson and The International Center at Worcester Tech, and like all of us, enjoying this spirited, timeless Jazz.  It was quite an honor to have them all here.  (Royce is a guitarist who played with the Blue Horizon at the Foundry in Walpole back in the 1980’s.)

McDonald was pleased, doing what he loves best, playing Traditional Jazz, especially Sidney Bechet.

His soprano sax on Lotus Blossom was intense and powerful, ending in a high D.

The “Rhythm Boys” are the foundation of the band;  Dave Bragdon on drums and Al Ehrenfried on string bass, provide a splendid pulse that propels the others.

Jeff Hughes joined the band for the finale, a gripping tune that became popular among soldiers in the First World War, It’s a Long, Way To Tipperary.

Stan McDonald insists on the best; he has always had excellent musicians.  It was a relief to see him back so soon, playing again with this top-notch Blue Horizon Jazz Band.  For those who have known him for a long time, it wasn’t surprising.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band continues at the Sherborn Inn on the 3rd Tuesday of every month (except December). Management picks up the $10 admission fee for anyone under 40 years of age, so bring your family, friends, in-laws.  They will enjoy it.  This kind of Jazz embodies a carefree, happy spirit, it’s infectious.